Utah will not renew swim coach's contract

By Contgributed

Standard-Examiner, The Associated Press

Mon, 03/04/2013 - 3:40pm

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SALT LAKE CITY—Utah Director of Athletics Dr. Chris Hill announced Monday that the school will not renew swimming and diving coach Greg Winslow’s contract when it comes up in June.

Winslow has been suspended because of allegations that he sexually abused a teenage girl he coached in Arizona six years ago.

Winslow was in his sixth season as the Utes’ swim coach.

The Arizona State University Police Department released a statement last Thursday saying it investigated allegations that Winslow sexually abused a teenage girl in 2007 who was a member of a swim club coached by Winslow.

Campus police said the abuse occurred at an ASU swimming center rented by the club and the club isn’t affiliated with the university.

The university said Winslow worked as an ASU assistant men’s swimming coach from 2003 to 2007. It was unclear whether Winslow was an ASU employee at the time. Police haven’t released the girl’s age.

“We decided it is in the best interest of our current student-athletes, future recruits and the general well being of our swimming and diving program to announce today that we will not be renewing Greg Winslow’s contract after this season,” said Hill on Monday in a press release. He added that Winslow will remain on paid administrative leave until further notice. “Our swimming and diving program is an important part of our athletic department and we are invested in its future. We will begin a search for a new coach immediately.”

Richard Marschner, Utah’s diving coach for the past three seasons, has been appointed interim director of the entire program, while continuing to coach the divers. First-year assistant James Winchester will take over as the interim swim coach. Winchester was the head coach at the University of New Orleans in 2010.

The Utah men are in sixth place at the Pac-12 Championships after one day of competition. The conference meet runs through Wednesday in Federal Way, Wash. The Utah women competed at the Pac-12 Championships last week, finishing seventh. The NCAA Zone Diving Championships are scheduled for March 13-16.